


THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
- All Post
- Trucks
- Swaps
- Performance Boats
- Builders
- Manufacturers
- _000 Home Sliders
- 05 Publications
- Builds
- Cars
- 01 Post Status
- Back
- Street Rods
- Hot Rods
- Late Model
- Drag Race
- Handling
- Compact Cars
- Accessories
- Chassis
- Power Adders
- Engine
- Fuel System
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Exterior
- Chassis
- Engine
- Power Adders
- Fuel System
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Exterior
- Accessories
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Fuel System
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Power Adders
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Exterior
- Accessories
- Chassis
- Engine
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Exterior
- Power Adders
- Accessories
- Chassis
- Engine
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Fuel System
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Exterior
- Accessories
- Power Adders
- Chassis
- Engine
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Fuel System
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Exterior
- Accessories
- Chassis
- Engine
- Fuel System
- Power Adders
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Back
- Accessories
- Chassis
- Power Adders
- Engine
- Fuel System
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Exterior
- Back
- Chassis
- Engine
- Power Adders
- Fuel System
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Exterior
- Accessories
- Back
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Exterior
- Power Adders
- Accessories
- Chassis
- Engine
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Fuel System
- Back
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Exterior
- Accessories
- Power Adders
- Chassis
- Engine
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Fuel System
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Back
- Exterior
- Accessories
- Chassis
- Engine
- Fuel System
- Power Adders
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Back
- Accessories
- Chassis
- Engine
- Fuel System
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Power Adders
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Exterior
- Back
- Chassis
- Engine
- Fuel System
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Power Adders
- Interior
- Exterior
- Accessories
- Back
- Lincoln
- Mitsubishi
- Ford
- Dodge
- Honda
- Nissan
- Toyota
- Chrysler
- Subaru
- Plymouth
- Mercury
- Chevrolet
- Volvo
- Cadillac
- Volkswagen
- Pontiac
- GMC
- AMC
- BMW
- Buick
- Jeep
- Oldsmobile
- Back
- Jesse James
- Jack Fuller
- Bob Cullipher
- Jerry Nichols
- Carl Casper
- J.F. Launier
- Bobby Alloway
- Chip Foose
- Steve Sellers
- Boyd Coddington
- Rad Rides by Troy
- Ring Brothers
- Cal Auto Creations
- Back
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Fuel System
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Power Adders
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Exterior
- Accessories
- Chassis
- Engine
- Back
- Interior Swaps
- Driveline
- Chassis
- Engine Swaps
- Back
- Engine
- Fuel System
- Electrical
- Outdrives
- Steering
- Interior
- Accessories
- Power Adders
- Exterior and Hull
- Back
- 50 Pub TB Truck Builder
- 60 Pub FPB Family Power Boat
- 45 Pub SRB Street Rod Builder
- 05 Pub HCI Hot Compact Imports
- 15 Pub 4x4 4x4 Builder
- 20 Pub SR Super Rod
- 25 Pub FB Ford Builder
- 30 Pub AR American Rodder
- 35 Pub RD Rodders Digest
- 40 Pub OTR On the Road
- 55 Pub BSCENE Buckaroo Scene
- 10 Pub CR Chevy Rumble
- Back
- Street Trucks
- OffRoad Trucks
- Accessories
- Chassis
- Engine
- Fuel System
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Power Adders
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Interior
- Exterior
- Chassis
- Engine
- Fuel System
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Suspension
- Steering
- Brakes
- Wheels and Tires
- Power Adders
- Interior
- Exterior
- Accessories
- Back
- 50 Post Approved
- 10 Post Images Imported
- 27 Post Missing Content
- 17 Post Missing TXT Files
- 18 Post Missing PDF Files
- 05 Post Imported
- 20 Post Missing Images (All)
- 25 Post Missing Images (Partial)
- 15 Post In Progress
- 30 Post Internal Review
- 40 Post On Hold
Showstopper
SSBC is Totally Showing Off With This Chevy
Author

Matt Emery
Story & Photography
The Full-On Customs: Showcasing Creativity and Craftsmanship
But there are those “other” SEMA vehicles, which are full-on customs that include an array of the company’s parts, as well as a great deal of creativity. These vehicles, by comparison, are just what we want to see, and consequently are the vehicles we find ourselves taking pictures of. This sweet 1970 Chevy C10 from the stables of Stainless Steel Brakes Corporation (SSBC), is one of those trucks built right, and it is firmly in the latter camp. When we saw it for the first time we couldn’t wait to capture it digitally.
Building the 1970 Chevy C10: A Showcase for SSBC
The owner of SSBC, Mike Jonas, wanted his truck to be a showcase for the latest products within his expansive brake line, and he also wanted it to be full of trick parts and pieces. He wanted his truck to look and ride great, and that means great suspension parts. To get the Chevy to look and ride great meant lowering it a few inches. To do this, a set of tubular Control Freak control arms was mated with lowered Eaton Detroit Spring springs up front, while Eaton springs were also used out back.
Upgrading the Drivetrain and Suspension
Speaking of out back, an Eaton Tru-Trac differential replaced the stock unit, while a 3-inch-thick aluminum driveshaft from Denny’s Driveshaft is used to connect the rearend housing to the transmission. Connecting is also what the Classic Tube brake, fuel and transmission lines do for the Chevy, including connecting the Rick’s Hot Rod Shop fuel tank to the engine.
Stylish Wheels and SSBC Brakes
Connecting the truck to the road is a set of cool Centerline Dagger wheels. The wheels measure 18×8 in the front, while wider 20×10-inch units were placed further back. All of the wheels are wrapped with high-quality Goodyear rubber. What would an SSBC truck be without SSBC brakes? The Chevy has been equipped with Force 10 disc brakes front and rear. The huge rotors are slotted for high-performance action. Also included is an SSBC billet master cylinder and proportioning block. Both have been highly polished, and the power booster was painted to match the exterior and the engine bay of the truck. The entire SSBC braking system not only looks great, but it will also slow down the Chevy easily from high speeds.
High-Speed Capability: The Heart of the Beast
High-speed capability is what was wanted for this Chevy. Not content with any small block, the crew went with a GM Performance Parts ZZ383 engine. Potent in its own right, the engine was then enhanced with one of Demon Carburetor’s Six Shooter intake systems. The unit uses three two-barrel carbs lined up on one of Demon’s specialty built intake manifolds. The result is plenty of fuel for the demanding engine, and killer good looks as well. Igniting that fuel is a complete MSD ignition system. From the billet distributor to the ignition box, the system is ready to burn the fuel, and the JBA headers and MagnaFlow exhaust system are just as eager to get the spent fuel out quickly—and to sound great doing it.
Clean Engine Bay and Cooling System
Wanting the engine bay to be as clean as possible while still having all of the needed items, the Chevy was equipped with a Vintage Air Front Runner bracket and pulley system, while the mirror-polished Proform valve covers and timing cover add that extra sparkle. Turning over the 383 is no laughing matter, so a Powermaster Extreme Torque starter was connected. Last but not least, a SPAL electric fan helps keep the Be Cool radiator cool even when the engine is run hard.
Transmission and Frame Modifications
With all of its upgrades the engine now produces a lot of power, so getting that power to the Tru-Trac differential required a beefy transmission. For that a call went out to Bowler Transmissions of Lawrenceville, Illinois. The folks there then hand-built the 4l60E transmission and selected the perfect torque converter to be placed in the C10. When the Chevy left the line in Detroit it was actually a longbed, but thanks to the crew at Aero Collision and Fabrication it is now a shortbed. They did the hard work to shorten the frame but only had to hang the new Goodmark sheetmetal to make it into the truck seen here. In fact, virtually everything except the cab is Goodmark: the front fenders, the cool cowl induction hood and even the entire bed are from the Lawrenceville, Georgia-based Goodmark Industries. That sure must have made the folks at Aero’s lives easier. But their work wasn’t done, as they also painted the truck. Jonas wanted the truck to look clean, so he chose not to make too many body modifications, but a Classic Industries roll pan was added.
Exterior Enhancements: Clean and Classic Look
Speaking of clean, Jonas also chose Sherwin-Williams Planet Color Diamond White paint to adorn his Chevy. Applied by the crew at Aero Collision and Fabrication, the paint seems to make the Chevy literally glow. But paint is not the only exterior piece that makes a truck glow, and it was again Goodmark Industries that supplied the new chrome grille insert and the headlight surrounds.
Custom Wood Bed and Fuel System
While most 1967-’72 Chevy truck models came with a steel floor in the bed, this one features wood. Long known for his beautiful wood beds, Bruce Horkey of Bruce Horkey’s Wood & Parts outdid himself with the oak planks and stainless steel strips that adorn the floor of this truck. Since the fuel tank resides beneath the wood, there needs to be some way to get the fuel into it, so a stainless steel gas cap courtesy of Air Ride Technologies has been placed into the floor. Seeing (and reaching) into that bed is easier thanks to the Pace Edwards sliding rear window.
Interior Comfort and Customization
Never let it be said that Mike Jonas doesn’t like his creature comforts, and that is reflected in the interior of his truck. Leather undoubtedly looks great, but it is actually not as comfortable as the plush brown cloth that the crew at Professional Autoglass and Upholstery installed on the centers of the seats. The seat surrounds are brown vinyl, as are the door panels and the headliner. Equally as plush is the carpeting from Auto Custom Carpets that adorns the floor, and found beneath that carpeting and in the doors and the cab is Quiet Ride Solutions interior insulation.
Modern Touches: Replacing Interior Trim and Components
Thanks to the march of time, most of the interior trim needed to be replaced. Thankfully, companies such as Classic Industries and Trim Parts Inc. are there for those who need to turn back the clock. Other interior items also needed to be replaced, so a call went out to Flaming River for one of its tilt steering columns, while Lokar supplied the cool gas and brake pedals. Another item that needed to be replaced is the stock wiring, not only because it was old and frayed but because it needed to be able to run new items such as the Vintage Air A/C system. It was aptly replaced with a Painless Performance wiring system.
Audio System: Preserving Classic Style
A good audio system is also important to any hot rod, but it is nice not to have to cut a big hole in your classic dash. A great way around that problem is to go with a Custom Autosound system (along with speakers mounted in the kick panels), which was installed by the guys at Ken Harrison Enterprises.
A Showcase of Style, Power, and Presence
Wow, that is some collection of parts. But it also adds up to one killer truck, as the completed Chevy is one that is subtle yet full of style, power and presence. When Mike Jonas began this build, he knew that he wanted a showcase for his disc brakes, but what he ended up with is more of a showcase on how to build a classic truck.